HEKS/EPER is making a difference in the «Public services» in Iraq

Some 10 million people now need humanitarian aid as a result of the armed conflict in Iraq. Many have fled Islamic State (IS) into Kurdish regions or abroad. Despite being one of today's worst humanitarian crises, it risks being forgotten as it is not receiving the same attention as the Syrian crisis. UN and NGO aid projects are seriously underfunded. HEKS/EPER has been providing emergency relief in Northern Iraq since winter 2014/2015. Up to the end of 2016, internally displaced people and host families in Sulaymaniyah, Halabja and Diyalla Province are being supplied with food, cooling units, heating oil and «cash for work», in a joint endeavour with the local partner organisation «REACH».

Facts

Roughly 75000 people benefited from improved drinking water supplies as well as sanitary and health conditions in three refugee camps in 2017, with the help of HEKS/EPER.

Education, healthcare, social welfare and infrastructure such as electricity, water, waste disposal or roadways are among the services that a State generally provides for its citizens – affordably and of sufficiently good quality. Regrettably, this is hardly the case in the countries where HEKS/EPER operates. Minorities, older people or people with disabilities as well as communities in remote areas face particular difficulty. HEKS/EPER supports disadvantaged people in accessing public services, and promotes dialogue between the population and the authorities.